Open Source Contributions vs. High-Paying Jobs: LeetCode Wins?

Five years after graduation, a programmer with a wealth of open-source projects under his belt found that his years of dedication hadn't translated into a high-paying job. He worked for two startups, putting in long hours for meager pay. Ultimately, he had to abandon his beloved open-source projects and grind LeetCode, resulting in a 5x salary increase but also a loss of the joy and fulfillment he once had. This article reveals a harsh reality: the job market values leetcode and FAANG experience more than real-world project contributions.